On November 11, 2021, Covenant House New York opened its doors to 110 youth and welcomed them into their new home. Dancing, laughter, joy and hope filled every room of the building. At the end of the night, our bellies were full, our hearts were fuller, and our youth slumbered in their warm beds with new sheets and pillows.
For the first time in our nearly 50 year history, our flagship site is housed in a purpose-built facility constructed from the ground up to meet the specific needs of our young people. The new space puts shelter, health care, legal assistance, educational services, and job training under one roof-making them more accessible and easier to navigate.
Every design decision, from the selection of the colors, to the emphasis on sunlight, the high ceilings, wide hallways, and outdoor space was made to provide our young people with the feeling they are welcomed and valued. And our young people were involved in many decisions throughout the process. They requested no more than two to three young people in each residential room, a music room, an art room, quiet spaces, outdoor space, a meditation room, and a gymnasium. In fact, our young people even named parts of the building, including the gym (CovDome), the cafeteria (CovCafe), and the courtyard outside of the cafeteria (New Leaf Garden).
Since first opening our doors in 1972, we’ve tested approaches, pioneered new programs, and learned what truly works to help youth who are overcoming homelessness heal and get on a path to independence. We are so grateful to our community for being love, light, and hope to thousands of youth who will call Covenant House New York home, even if just for a short time.
Learn more at covenanthouse.org.
Негізгі бет Move-In Day at Covenant House New York
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